Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, #5)(51)

“Not there either.”

She turned and caught the barest smile quickly disappear under his stoic fa?ade.

Finally, she came to a shelf which looked like it was full of love sonnets. Frustrated, she quickly shoved the book there and turned, hands on her hips, to wait for his smug look, but the chair was empty. He was already next to her, pulling the book back down off the shelf. He gave her a wry smile that would have melted her heart if she wasn’t sure another snide comment was coming.

“Menlo.” He shook the book in the air. “Belongs next to Menlay.” He switched hands and gently reached over her shoulder to shelve the book, bringing him within inches of her. Mina quickly handed him the next, hoping it belonged on the other side of the room.

He briefly glanced at the book and smiled again as he leaned closer and reached just above her head to put the book away. When he came back down on the balls of his feet, he was so close, she could hardly take a breath. Her head bumped into the wood shelf. She heard a wobble and looked up just as a decorative vase fell from above.

Teague grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into him as he jerked a few steps back. The vase crashed to the ground, barely missing her. Mina was flush against his body, her head resting against his chest, and she froze, unable to move. She could hear frantic beating, and it took her a second to realize she was hearing Teague’s heart. She glanced up at him, and he stared at her wide-eyed, his expression utterly confused.

As if he couldn’t comprehend his own racing heart.

“Thanks,” she whispered, unwilling to be the one to pull away.

“You’re welcome.” His arms held on too.

“I’ll clean that up,” Mina said softly.

“Leave it,” he demanded and moved his head lower.

“Prince Teague, are you in here?” Annalora called in an overly sweet voice.

She thought Teague cursed softly in Fae under his breath, but he pushed her away and took large steps toward the door to cut off Annalora.

Mina retreated behind the tall stacks of books as Annalora came to him and smiled brightly.

“Annalora, you’re looking for me?”

“Yes, I wanted to talk to you some more about what I had said earlier. Have you had a chance to think it over?”

“I have. I’m not sure what you’re proposing will solve my exact problem.”

“Of course it will. It’s a fact that the land will be healed when you choose your queen. Everyone knows that. The fate of our world has always been connected to the Fates. I can see the toll it’s taking on you, and I’m willing to share your burden. Together we can heal the land, and you will live.”

“I’m searching for other alternatives.”

“You’re dying. I know it because the land is dying. You’re not strong enough to sustain the land by yourself and control the armies. Others will come and try to overthrow you if you don’t bind yourself to another.”

“How dare you say that I am weak!” Teague’s eyes blazed, and the books on the shelves behind him started to shake and move in their place. “Do you not know who I am?”

“I know who you are.” She pushed on his chest right in the spot where the tip of the dagger lay, and he gasped in pain. The shelves stopped moving. “I also know that the tip is moving closer to your heart. It’s weakening you at the same time you’re drawing strength from it. I can help you. You can draw your strength from me. I will rule by your side.”

He rubbed his chest and glared at her. “You do yourself no favors speaking to me with such disrespect. I will think on it more—if I find myself desperate.”

“You do that. Because you’re more desperate than you’re willing to admit. I don’t know how much time you even have left.” She strode back out the library doors.

As soon as they shut, Teague spun and blasted through a whole shelf of books, scattering the pages into the air.

Mina cried out as another shelf started to topple toward her. She barely dodged it. “Teague,” Mina called. “Teague, it’s okay. You’ll figure something out.”

He just raged on in pain and fury. The dark side of Teague came out as his fear erupted, and he took it out on his precious library.

Mina knew better than to stay nearby, so she took off running for the door, flinging it open just as a large table crashed into the wall next to her. She ran down the hall and into the main foyer and stopped by one of the columns. Fresh tears streamed down her face as she realized that freedom may come faster than she realized. All she had to do was wait for Teague to die.





Chapter 24



Mina left the library and Teague’s destructive anger behind. She was so torn. What was the right thing to do? She ran blindly, not even caring where she was headed, as her feet pounded on, doubts and questions that filled her mind.

Until she collided into a wall of flesh.

“Oomph.” Mina groaned as strong hands grabbed her forearms, and she looked up into the tanned and bearded face of a shirtless stranger.

“Come, we will get you out of here.” The man gripped her arm and tugged her after him.

“No, wait! I can’t leave!”

Her abductor ignored her and pulled her down the hall and out the front door. She struggled against the older man. His brown beard was tinged in gray, his eyes a dark hazel, filled with worry. On his arms, she could see the fine white spidery lines of scars that had long since healed over. A long necklace of seashells was the only adornment on his upper body.